Contents

Understand

This is a lovely province in Luzon's Southern Tagalog region, located south of Manila/NCR. Here you will find excellent diving spots including Anilao in Mabini, Sombrero Island in Tingloy, Ligpo Island in Bauan, these areas collectively are more popularly known as Anilao. It is home to Taal Lake and Volcano - said to be the lake within the lake, old churches and houses dating back to the Spanish times in Taal Town Proper, Calaca and Batangas City, and the Batangas International and Container Port. There is mountain trekking - in Mt. Maculot and in Mabini and Nasugbu towns. There are fresh-water beaches in the towns around the Lake -- San Nicolas, Agoncillo, Cuenca, Balete, Tanauan and Talisay. Salt-water beaches abound in Matabungkay (Lian town), in Nasugbu, in Calatagan, in Calaca, in Lemery, in Taal, San Luis, in Bauan, in Lobo, and in Laiya (San Juan town). There are also several island tourist destinations, namely: Tingloy, Ligpo Island, Sombrero Island, and Fortune Island. There are also Industrial Parks and various manufacturing industries dotting the shoreline.

Get in

Batangas City is 2 1/2 hours away from Manila when using the old inter town route. Using the STAR Tollway route, one can reach Batangas City for just 1 1/2 hour. Tanauan City is about 1 hour away and in between Tanauan City and Batangas City, one will find Lipa City. ALPS The Bus, Inc.[18] is one of many bus companies that travels the said route.

Travellers can take air-conditioned buses in going to Batangas City. Those who want to go to Nasugbu, Calatagan and Lian towns (Matabungkay) can pass via the Tagaytay route.

Travellers going to Puerto Galera can take direct air con buses from Manila (Cubao) to Batangas pier. The best services are BLTB (every hour) and JAM transit (also every hour) from Kamuin Cubao bus station. SOmetimes, esepcially during peak hours, buses run every 30 minutes. The last stop is Batangas pier (ask the conductor before hand) from where one can take a ferry to [Puerto Galera]

When driving one's own vehicle to Tanauan-Lipa-Batangas City, travelers will pass through the South Luzon Expressway, then the STAR Tollway and can just follow the directional signs along the highway.

For short trips in the desired destinations, passenger jeepneys abound, and then tricycles.

Get around

You can use passenger jeepneys to go to different parts of the province, but you can use tricycles for short trips. Tricycles could take you to the exact place that you want to go because jeepneys have routes like buses do. However, tricycles are small and cramped, and could only comfortably accommodate three passengers (2 if the passenger is over six feet tall).

Current starting fare for jeepneys is Php 7.00 (seven pesos) for each passenger for the first kilometer traveled. Senior citizens, students, and differently abled passengers enjoy a discount: for each, it is Php 6.00 (six pesos); for tricycles, the minimum is Php 20, regardless of how many will ride.

The fare schedule (in English) is typically posted inside the jeepney for travelers to refer on, although you may ask the driver or other passengers themselves if you are not sure how much you should pay. The locals, like in most other spots in the Philippines, can understand and converse well in English.

See

Taal Volcano at Taal Lake.

Having your own Taal tour is easy. Taal volcano tour is a an easy trek from the shore of the volcano island to the rim via the regular trail. If you're more adventurous, try also the Calauit trail. This allows one to go down to where the crater lake is and see the volcanic activities up close and personal.

Do

Swim. The reef is carved to create small swimming areas at the foot of the ladders.

Kick back, relax, and soak up the tropical ambiance. That's what this place is all about!

Basilica Minor of St. Martin of Tours, located in the Taal section of Batangas, one of the biggest catholic churches in all of southeast asia.

lots of beaches, resorts with swimming pools, and restaurants.

Swimming and snorkeling around Ligpo Island, Sombrero island to see the corals. Beautiful colors!

Scuba diving in the entire strip of Balayan Bay is home to the most diverse species of marine life in the world being in the world's coral triangle. Try scuba diving with experience programs for first timers using reputable dive operators.

Explore the mountains on a mountain bike with the Batangas Mountain Bikers, a group of local cyclists based in Batangas City.

You may also go to Taal Batangas where it is rich in Pre Hispanic Houses, and Taal Batangas is also known to have lots of Beach Resort. - You can visit [19]The Best of Taal Batangas

Buy

The Barong Tagalog, one of the Philippines trademarks, as it is worn during special occasions.

Batangas is famous for the Balisong knife (commonly called Butterfly knives outside of the country). If you do buy these knives, and you live outside of the Philippines, you risk having the knife confiscated.

Batangas is famous for its panutsa (Peanut Brittle), Sinaing na Tulingan (small tuna simmered in a broth of water, rock salt, sampaloc/tamarind, and dried kamias), suman (rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves), and the longganisa and tapa made in Taal Town, the achara of Calaca, and Bagoong of Balayan towns.

Sweets like macapuno, ube and pastillas are famous in the town of Malvar, particularly the Elsa's Sweet Candies in San Gregorio Malvar Batangas.

Saplot Batangenyo, Batangas novelty shirts.

Eat

Taal Bayview Bistro offers pretty much all of the Batangas specialties like Tapang Taal, Tawilis, Adobo sa Dilaw, Maliputo (a fresh water fish found only in Taal Lake), Kalderetang Kambing Batangas Style, Bulalo. Taal Bistro, a branch, is located very near the historic Taal Church and the Public Market.

Ask the locals about their "kilawin", it is fresh fish soaked in vinegar and acidic juices like lemon, lime, or the local kalamansi, with lots of tiny chopped onions, fresh garlic, and hot peppers, its really good when the fish is still very fresh, as in just caught and straight ahead to the chopping board.

Fried longganisa and Tapang Taal with Atchara

Beef Kaldereta and Beef Tadyang at the A & M Restaurant

Hamburger at the Hungry Hippo in Batangas City

Gotong Batangas at Gotohan sa Barangay in Lipa City

Crispy Pata at The Only Place / The Other Place Restaurants

Pritong Tilapia caught fresh from Taal Lake

Maliputo is a delicious fish found only at Taal Lake

Tawilis is another delicacy - small fishes caught only in Taal Lake

Pancit Tikyano (red stir-fried noodles) from Letty's in Batangas City

Hot Chocolate in a roadside stand en route to Mabini and Anilao

Kapeng Barako, the coffee that made the province famous particularly in Lipa City for its famous Cafe de Lipa (with branches at SM-Mall of Asia, SM City Lipa, Petron Star Toll, Market Market and main office at 032 San Carlos Drive Mataasnalupa Lipa City, opposite to Robinson's Lipa Exit

Drink

Red Horse beer and Colt 45 are very popular for beers. if you want refreshing drink, try the mura juice with mura meat. its is young coconut juice with the fruit's meat, really good when served very cold mixed with condensed milk for sweetness...

Try Lambanog from San Juan town. It's a local brew from Cane.

Sleep

The reputation of Batangas as a tourist destination has resulted in the sudden growth of one-stars, numerous bungalows over the water accessed by boardwalks, with wooden stairs leading down to the sea, and three-stars that are cheap by international standards.

Lago De Oro Cable Ski Park and Resort, Bo. Balibago, Calatagan, ☎(63)(43) 2132006, [3]. Facing South China Sea, Lago de Oro Beach Club is in Balibago, in the town of Calatagan. The first cable wakeboarding park in the Philippines. The beachfront resort offers cable television, refrigerator, and a mini-bar in their rooms. They also have a balcony/deck.″.

Days Hotel Batangas (Days Hotel Batangas), Pastor Village, Pallocan West (From the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, car rentals are readily available in the form of taxi cabs that are waiting outside the airport. The hotel is in the Pastor Village.), ☎+63-43-9807321, [4]. Tours to churches and communities in Taal, Lipa, Malvar and Tanuan can be arranged.

Anilao Outrigger Resort, Solo, Anilao, Mabini, ☎+632-890-6778 (fax: +632-729-6571), [5]. The resort provides complete diving equipment and houses a restaurant and bar. There are about 185 steps down to the resort from the parking lot. Porters will carry your luggage up and down, but you have to climb all of those stairs, which can be strenuous.Lowest rates start at Php2,800.00.

Matabungkay Beach Resort, Brgy. Matabungkay, Lian, ☎(0917) 834-12 69, [9]. Its rooms are all equipped with spacious verandas, air conditioning, and a private bathroom. Also on premises are drink and food, function rooms, a spa, and a steam sauna.From.

Mount Malarayat Hotel and Suites, Dagatan, Lipa City, ☎+63 (43) 757-1122, [13]. Mount Malarayat Hotel and Suites is a hotel within Mount Malarayat Golf & Country Club. It has furnished suites, a golfer's lounge, a spa, sports pavilions, a fishing lake, a ballroom, and restaurants of various cuisines.Best rates on official website start at PHP 5,440.00.

The Coral Beach Club, Matabungkay, Lian, ☎+639179014634, [14]. Less than 2 hours drive from Manila. European and Asian cuisines, a pool and jacuzzi, a hot stones massage, and a hair salon are available on premises, and the Calatagan Golf Club is nearby.Php 1,999.

Get out

The Batangas ferry terminal during Holy Week

Many travelers transit through Batangas in order to catch a ferry to another island. Batangas has a large port with boats going almost everywhere in the Philippines. The boats/ferries caled RoRo (Roll-on, Roll-off) usually can accommodate your own vehicles. Schedules change frequently so check ahead of time. Also, the terminal is a focal point for many islands and therefore sees a lot of traffic. Expect longer lines and waiting times especially during public holidays, especially Holy Week. Fortunately, the Filipino culture observes and respects queueing so lines move orderly and quickly.